Run Run Away

Question:

I’m hoping to do my first tri in October (Sentinel in Santa Cruz) and am fighting a hip injury that (just guessing here) will probably require another 2-3 non-running weeks (have already lost 2 weeks of running training). Swimming and biking are not a problem and (surprisingly) neither is workouts on a Stairmaster. When I first started Tri-training I was surprised at how little my running improved with all the bike work that I put in, etc. As I had read (but had never cared before) endurance training is very muscle specific. Anyone out there have experience or an opinion on how effective a Stairmaster is as a temporary replacement for running workouts? dave ps. Thanks to all of you RST-folks who have responded to my queries via     e-mail. If you haven’t recieved a personal reply from me it is     because I am using a brain-dead mail-reader that occasionally can’t     properly parse internet addresses (I really am going to dump this     NETCRUISER crap some day).  

Response:

…snippage…  Anyone out there have experience or an opinion on how effective a Stairmaster is as a  temporary replacement for running workouts?

  Stairmaster will help your aerobic fitness, and your hill cycling ability.  Unless the finish line is over the top of your head, however,  I don’t think it will help with running speed.  Try NordicTrack as an adjunct to stairmaster.  It will enhance your push-off and forward-directed efforts. |       Ray Plotecia            | |       Image Control           |

Response:

Anyone out there have experience or an opinion on how effective a Stairmaster is as a temporary replacement for running workouts?

I have always supplemented my running with the Stairmaster and found that it helped.  I would go fo a 6-8 mi run at noon and then do 1 1/2 hrs on the stairmaster at level 17.  While my running times did not necessarily improve, my stamina did and the muscles used for hill running. After switching to tri’s 5 years ago I have started supplementing with the Stair master this year again and have found that my biking has gotten better and my running as stayed even as I am healing from a bad case of plantar fasciatis.  It  definitely can’t hurt.  Only now it’s not two 45 min back to back all out, it’s a good mix of middle and top efforts.

Response:

. Anyone out there have experience or an opinion on how effective a Stairmaster is as a temporary replacement for running workouts?

Dave, I’m sure everyone’s different, and I truly believe there’s no substitute for "muscle specific training, but I ran a marathon in 1994 where, for the year and a half leading up to the marathon I averaged 5 miles running (only ran once a week), 5-7 hours cycling in 2-3 sessions per week, 2 hours swimming in 2 sessions per week, and 2-3 hours on the Stairmaster in 2-3 sessions per week.  I’m absolutely convinced the Stairmaster workouts were critical to my being able to complete the marathon.  I’d say go for it – be careful when you start running again, but I think you can do it!  Best of luck! John (Faith) Ft. Washington, MD

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